Ex-Sweden Soccer Coach Dies

Georg Ericson, the only coach to lead Sweden's national soccer team in two World Cup finals, died. He was 82.

Ericson died Friday in his home in Aaby, 80 miles southwest of Stockholm, Swedish news agency TT said.

During his 1971-79 tenure as coach of the national squad, Ericson led Sweden to 37 victories in 91 international games.

Under his leadership, Sweden placed fifth in the 1974 World Cup in West Germany. Four years later, he brought Sweden to the World Cup in Argentina, where the team was knocked out in the preliminary round.

Before becoming a coach, Ericson played for IFK Norrkoping in the Swedish "Allsvenskan" soccer league, winning the national championship in 1946 and '48, and two cup titles in 1943 and '45. As an official, the side won five league titles.